EquinoX
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Weekend adventure
The best way to learn something is by doing it. Well, if you're brave enough. My first time in singapore was last weekend where we took the plunge and drove in with our trusty Kia Spectra. Initially the plan was to stop in Johor bahru, change currencies and then head to Singapore but instead the highway took us straight to the border. So with no Sing Dollars we had to rely on other road users to change our currencies to get the Autopass(which we didn't even know existed). We managed to get just enough for the autopass and continued driving into the country without a single cent in our pockets. Good thing that we managed to get a map at a gas station before we entered the country.
Plan B was to find a money changer, but instead since we were in Clemente where an old friend lived, we headed there instead. We didn't even know that there was a charge for parking in residential areas. Kindly she supplied us with two 50 cent tickets. each for a half hour park. one we used at her place and the other we kept for parking later when we were going to a money changer or have dinner. To our surprise, by the time we got out the money changers in clemente were closed. So with empty stomachs and no cash(well, we had a lot of cash, but it was useless in this country so practically we were paupers) we hunted for the money changer. We even tried using the ATM machines to withdraw Sing Dollars using our credit cards but that didn't work. Even tried using our PLUS enabled bank cards which also failed.
We resorted to having bread and cheese which we had in the car to subdue our stomachs and headed out without knowledge about the roads and so forth. We couldn't even go back to johor because our autopass was not topped up yet and to do that we needed sing dollars. we took the CTE north and bypassed the city which we were headed for and had to settle for looking for a money changer in woodlands.
We came to a mall which our accompanying friend rushed in to see if any money changers were open while we made circles in front of it because we didn't even have money to park. It was a relief that he managed to get $175. So we parked, had dinner in KFC and then since it was late we headed back to johor(cheaper hotels there. in singapore the price of a "cheap" hotel can get you to stay in a five star hotel in johor) In johor the adventure was looking for the hotel which we have been to but forgot the way. but in the end things turned out okay.
Next morning we headed back to singapore. This time with cash. and took a walk on orchard road, and stared heading home at about 3 in the afternoon. it was fun. But I wouldn't go shopping there, except maybe for books.
Thursday, March 11, 2004
LIPZ4 Softphone
Here's something interesting to try out if you have access to a few machines connected via hub running linux.
LIPZ4
It's a free linux softphone which runs fully on SIP. Planning to use this as an alternative to Intercoms around the house. we'll see how things go.
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Within 24 Hours
It's funny how ideas and life can change within a few hours. Just yesterday, I was sitting down at this terminal learning Hiragana via software when the guy in the next cubicle told me about this new housing area close by. He was up there during the weekend and he was interested in purchasing the double storey semi-D, complete with 20 years club membership(which includes gym, pool, the likes) He was just asking my opinion about it. When I heard it was going up for 207,000, I was pretty interested myself. We decided to take a short visit to the site office this afternoon. Turned out I was the one who bought one of the lots since after calculating my cash flow, it seemed feasable and I liked the area. Now I'm trying to talk my colleage into getting the lot right next to ours.
Monday, March 01, 2004
When the whole world disappears again...
After a few days of heavy eating activity. Now comes the new month of March. Had a few friends over for dinner last week. All homecooked meals. Rice, Chicken Curry(which i accidently made too spicy), Beef in Soya Sauce, Mixed stir fry veggies plus pasta in minced beef and tomato. We kind of over budgeted since we had plenty of leftovers afterwards to last us until the weekend. Then we went back to the in-laws and my mother-in-law provided us with food to take back... on the saturday the in-laws came over with yet some more food. then we went to a gathering of one of my wife's cousin which also resulted in taking home more food... and to top it of, yesterday we were at my wife's niece's birthday party which also resulted in... yes, you guessed it. more food. No wonder I'm outgrowing my size 32 waistline. And we still have loads of leftovers to last us yet another week. (well, my wife packed some of the pasta for me, so i didn't have to go out and buy lunch. so it's good to have a lot of leftovers provided they don't go bad.)
